Students and employers are rethinking the need to hold a four-year degree, says Julie Lammers, senior VP of advocacy and corporate social responsibility, American Student Assistance (ASA).

WorkingNation sat down with Lammers at SXSW EDU 2023 in Austin.

She says it’s important for students to be introduced to career pathways early – even starting in middle school. “We spend a lot of time thinking about how we ensure kids have opportunity to explore careers at a much earlier age.”

“We believe no later than middle school is really what is most valuable. Allowing them to test and try through experiences like work-based learning, entrepreneurship experiences while they’re in high school. That allows them to more easily clarify the types of postsecondary education that will fit their long-term career roles. It may be a four-year degree, but it may be one of the more diverse pathways that have really exploded over the last few years.”

Lammers says ASA has digital tools that give students the opportunity to career exploration – including Future Network and Futurescape. “We know that if kids don’t see opportunities in front of them by the time they reach middle school, they begin to foreclose things as possibilities.”

Learn more American Student Assistance (ASA).
Learn more about Future Network and Futurescape.